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FuzzyRussianHat · 03-22-2024, 03:48 PM

The Japan League’s West Division yet again was very top heavy. Kitakyushu had missed the playoffs the prior two seasons despite 101 and 98 win seasons. The Kodiaks were back on top at 109-53, pulling away from a 97-65 Kumamoto. Hiroshima, the defending JL champ, was third in the division at 88-74. That would’ve been good enough to win two other divisions, but alas. Sapporo took the North Division at 89-73 for their fourth division title in a row. Kobe claimed the Central at 86-76 to end a two year playoff drought, defeating Nagoya by six games. Tokyo snagged a weak Capital Division for the sixth consecutive year. At 82-80, the Tides were three games ahead of both Yokohama and Kawasaki.

Kitakyushu slugger Tsukasa Kato won his third Japan League MVP and tied his own home run record. At age 36, the lefty smacked 72 dingers, matching his 1994 effort. He also led in RBI (147), slugging (.693), OPS (1.030), wRC+ (211), and WAR (9.5). It was Kato’s 11^th time leading Japan in homers and his sixth time hitting 60+. His Kodiaks teammate Junzo Yamanoue earned a third Pitcher of the Year. The 30-year old righty led in ERA (1.82), innings (276.1), strikeouts (320), quality starts (27), and complete games (14). Yamanoue had 8.8 WAR and a 19-5 record.

Kitakyushu cruised to a first round sweep of Tokyo and Sapporo swept Kobe. The Kodiaks were back in the Japan League Championship Series for the first time since their 1992-94 three-peat as EAB champs. Meanwhile, the Swordfish had been the JLCS runner-up the past two years. Kitakyushu was the heavy favorite, but Sapporo shocked them with a sweep. It was the first pennant since 1983 for the Swordfish and their Japan League leading 13^th title.

The Korea League had the exact same playoff teams as the prior season, although roles were swapped a bit. Yongin was the second wild card last year, but this time had the top mark at 101-61 atop the South Division. Suwon was a repeat North Division winner at 100-62. Busan (95-67) and defending EAB champ Ulsan (94-68) took the wild cards. Seongnam (92-70) and Seoul (90-72) fell just shy in the wild card battle. It was the fourth consecutive playoff appearance for the Gold Sox, Blue Jays, and Swallows. For the Snappers, this was their fifth berth in six years.

Busan DH Hyeon-Seong Lim repeated as Korea League MVP, setting the East Asia Baseball single season record with 257 hits, beating Si-Hun Lee’s 252 from 1993. As of 2037, this hasn’t been topped and was matched only once. Lim nearly became the second EAB batter to hit above a .400 batting average, ending at .398. The 30-year old switch hitter also led the KL in runs (117), doubles (44), total bases (404), OBP (.414), OPS (1.040), wRC+ (185), and WAR (9.8). Suwon’s Sung-Hyun Tak snagged Pitcher of the Year in his seventh season in the rotation. He led in WAR (7.9), and FIP- (53) despite missing almost two months to back issues. Tak had a 13-8 record, 2.35 ERA, 195.1 innings, and 228 strikeouts.

Yongin swept defending champ Ulsan in the first round of the playoffs, while Suwon stopped Busan 3-1. The Gold Sox had a shot at their third Korea League pennant in four years, while it was the first KLCS for the Snappers since their 1992 pennant. Yongin re-established their dynasty dreams, taking the series in six games. It was the sixth pennant for the Gold Sox (1970, 84, 85, 94, 95, 97).

In the 77^th East Asian Championship, Yongin locked up their second title in three years. The Gold Sox beat Sapporo 4-1, becoming three-time overall champs having also won it all in 1984. LF Chae-Ho Yi, the finals MVP in 1995, also took it in 1997. The 34-year old in his penultimate season had 22 hits, 12 runs, 5 doubles, 5 home runs, and 13 RBI in 14 playoff starts.

Other notes: Tsukasa Kato became the 10^th member of the 700 home run club. He played until 2001 and ended up with 762 dingers, retiring third all-time. Kato also picked up his ninth and final Silver Slugger in 1997. Seong-Jun Myong became the 11^th pitcher to 250 career wins. Fukuoka set a team record in the Japan League with 287 doubles. This would only get matched once, also by the Frogs in 2009. In Gold Gloves, 1B/2B Kunihiko Koike won his eighth, CF Yeon-Ho Kim won his eighth, and RF Do-Un Chi won his seventh.

03-22-2024, 03:48 PM	#1085
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,637	1997 in EAB The Japan League’s West Division yet again was very top heavy. Kitakyushu had missed the playoffs the prior two seasons despite 101 and 98 win seasons. The Kodiaks were back on top at 109-53, pulling away from a 97-65 Kumamoto. Hiroshima, the defending JL champ, was third in the division at 88-74. That would’ve been good enough to win two other divisions, but alas. Sapporo took the North Division at 89-73 for their fourth division title in a row. Kobe claimed the Central at 86-76 to end a two year playoff drought, defeating Nagoya by six games. Tokyo snagged a weak Capital Division for the sixth consecutive year. At 82-80, the Tides were three games ahead of both Yokohama and Kawasaki. Kitakyushu slugger Tsukasa Kato won his third Japan League MVP and tied his own home run record. At age 36, the lefty smacked 72 dingers, matching his 1994 effort. He also led in RBI (147), slugging (.693), OPS (1.030), wRC+ (211), and WAR (9.5). It was Kato’s 11^th time leading Japan in homers and his sixth time hitting 60+. His Kodiaks teammate Junzo Yamanoue earned a third Pitcher of the Year. The 30-year old righty led in ERA (1.82), innings (276.1), strikeouts (320), quality starts (27), and complete games (14). Yamanoue had 8.8 WAR and a 19-5 record. Kitakyushu cruised to a first round sweep of Tokyo and Sapporo swept Kobe. The Kodiaks were back in the Japan League Championship Series for the first time since their 1992-94 three-peat as EAB champs. Meanwhile, the Swordfish had been the JLCS runner-up the past two years. Kitakyushu was the heavy favorite, but Sapporo shocked them with a sweep. It was the first pennant since 1983 for the Swordfish and their Japan League leading 13^th title. The Korea League had the exact same playoff teams as the prior season, although roles were swapped a bit. Yongin was the second wild card last year, but this time had the top mark at 101-61 atop the South Division. Suwon was a repeat North Division winner at 100-62. Busan (95-67) and defending EAB champ Ulsan (94-68) took the wild cards. Seongnam (92-70) and Seoul (90-72) fell just shy in the wild card battle. It was the fourth consecutive playoff appearance for the Gold Sox, Blue Jays, and Swallows. For the Snappers, this was their fifth berth in six years. Busan DH Hyeon-Seong Lim repeated as Korea League MVP, setting the East Asia Baseball single season record with 257 hits, beating Si-Hun Lee’s 252 from 1993. As of 2037, this hasn’t been topped and was matched only once. Lim nearly became the second EAB batter to hit above a .400 batting average, ending at .398. The 30-year old switch hitter also led the KL in runs (117), doubles (44), total bases (404), OBP (.414), OPS (1.040), wRC+ (185), and WAR (9.8). Suwon’s Sung-Hyun Tak snagged Pitcher of the Year in his seventh season in the rotation. He led in WAR (7.9), and FIP- (53) despite missing almost two months to back issues. Tak had a 13-8 record, 2.35 ERA, 195.1 innings, and 228 strikeouts. Yongin swept defending champ Ulsan in the first round of the playoffs, while Suwon stopped Busan 3-1. The Gold Sox had a shot at their third Korea League pennant in four years, while it was the first KLCS for the Snappers since their 1992 pennant. Yongin re-established their dynasty dreams, taking the series in six games. It was the sixth pennant for the Gold Sox (1970, 84, 85, 94, 95, 97). In the 77^th East Asian Championship, Yongin locked up their second title in three years. The Gold Sox beat Sapporo 4-1, becoming three-time overall champs having also won it all in 1984. LF Chae-Ho Yi, the finals MVP in 1995, also took it in 1997. The 34-year old in his penultimate season had 22 hits, 12 runs, 5 doubles, 5 home runs, and 13 RBI in 14 playoff starts. Other notes: Tsukasa Kato became the 10^th member of the 700 home run club. He played until 2001 and ended up with 762 dingers, retiring third all-time. Kato also picked up his ninth and final Silver Slugger in 1997. Seong-Jun Myong became the 11^th pitcher to 250 career wins. Fukuoka set a team record in the Japan League with 287 doubles. This would only get matched once, also by the Frogs in 2009. In Gold Gloves, 1B/2B Kunihiko Koike won his eighth, CF Yeon-Ho Kim won his eighth, and RF Do-Un Chi won his seventh. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)